Empowered by the Holy Spirit
Tuesday, June 22
Empowered by the Holy Spirit
This Jesus is the stone that was rejected by you, the builders, which has become the cornerstone. Acts 4:11
Someone who is empowered is someone with authority. Merriam Webster defines the word empowered as “having the knowledge, confidence, means, or ability to do things or make decisions for oneself”. This means a judge can issue a sentence because her position empowers her to do so. Empowerment is desirable. When you are empowered, you are enabled or permitted to do that which your ministry or role requires of you. This explains the courage Peter and John showed as Peter was filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke to the men who had just had them arrested and thrown in prison all night. What was their crime? They had proclaimed faith in Jesus to a lame man and this man had been miraculously healed. They were spreading the Good News and the people were gathering in crowds to hear it. The crowd had been so stirred up that the leaders decided to start persecuting Peter and John. They were trying to stop their proclamations about Jesus being the Messiah of God.
Peter boldly confronted them with their sin of crucifying Jesus and told them God had raised Jesus from the dead and that was why healing power had come to the lame man. Even the leaders couldn’t help admiring Peter and John’s courage, but decided to try and stop them by forbidding them to use the name of Jesus anymore. It was useless. They couldn’t intimidate the two men because they were empowered for service.
The Holy Spirit’s empowerment can be surprising, and that in itself is a reminder that it’s not you at all! When He calls to your mind just the right verse to help you withstand temptation or motivate you when you are struggling against sin, that’s not your doing; it’s His! This is a great mystery—the combination of God’s Word and the Holy Spirit. It’s not something to be logically figured out. It is simply a gift to behold, accept, and utilize for Kingdom purposes.
Prayer for today: Dear Heavenly Father, may I be as brave as Peter and John if someone tries to intimidate me with threats to give up following Jesus. May I stand strong on the truths of the Gospel and be filled with the power of the Holy Spirit and the courage He brings. May I too speak of what I have experienced of Jesus and be a faithful witness. Amen.